Camellia

Camellia (pronounced /kəˈmɛliə/[2] or /kəˈmiːliə/[3]) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae.[1] They are found in tropical and subtropical areas in eastern and southern Asia, from the Himalayas east to Japan and Indonesia. There are more than 220 described species.[1] Camellias are popular ornamental, tea and woody-oil plants that have been cultivated throughout the world for centuries. To date, over 26,000 cultivars, with more than 51,000 cultivar names including synonyms, have been registered or published.[4][5]

For other uses, see Camellia (disambiguation).

Camellia
Camellia sasanqua is used as a garden plant, its leaves are used for tea, and its seeds for oil
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Theaceae
Genus: Camellia
L.
Species

About 187, see text

Synonyms[1]
  • Sasanqua Nees
  • Calpandria Blume
  • Camelliastrum Nakai
  • Desmitus Raf.
  • Drupifera Raf.
  • Piquetia Hallier f.
  • Salceda Blanco
  • Stereocarpus Hallier f.
  • Thea L.
  • Theaphylla Raf.
  • Theopsis Nakai
  • Tsia Adans.
  • Tsubaki Adans.
  • Yunnanea Hu

Of economic importance in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent, leaves of C. sinensis are processed to create the popular beverage tea. The ornamental C. japonica, C. sasanqua and their hybrids are the source of hundreds of garden cultivars. C. oleifera produces tea seed oil, used in cooking and cosmetics.

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